The sweeping gains in Durham by Reform have given that party control of the county council. Reform are now the second largest party in Northumberland with the distinct possibility of a Conservative / Reform partnership in control there. The response of our nitwit Mayor Kim McGuiness was to say that whilst disappointed in relation to massive Labour losses she is: ’as determined as ever to continue to work cross-party to keep delivering for our amazing region and creating real opportunity in the North East.’ Fat chance of that in relation to at least one crucial issue – confronting impending climate catastrophe by working towards net zero. There is an good publication by that excellent institution – the House of Commons Library – on the role of local authorities in achieving net zero: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2023-0122/CDP-2023-0122.pdf Lots of good stuff in this but one crucial point. There is no statutory obligation on local authorities to work towards net zero. Central governments since the establishment of net zero and the introduction of legislation in the Amended Climate Change Act (2019) took it for granted that local authorities would go along with the general programme. Reform’s County Durham Manifesto endorsed Reform National’s Contract with the people of the UK. Here are some relevant quotations from that document:
We will unlock Britain’s vast energy treasure of oil and gas to slash energy bills, beat the cost-of-living crisis and unleash real economic growth.
Net Zero is pushing up bills, damaging British industries likesteel, and making us less secure. We can protect our environment with more tree planting, more recycling and less single use plastics. New technology will help, but we must not impoverish ourselves in pursuit of unaffordable, unachievable global CO2 targets.
They go on to propose a role for small modular nuclear power. Even loons are right sometimes.
“Nigel Farage has warned council staff to look for other jobs after Reform took control of Durham. The Reform leader had a message for anyone working in a host of roles for Durham council, which his party is now in control of. Speaking at a victory rally in Durham on Friday (2 May), Mr Farage said: “These include those with working on climate change, diversity initiatives or even just from home. “You all better be seeking alternative careers very, very quickly.” (Source Independent)
Given that there is no statutory obligation on local authorities to pursue net zero this may well happen.
McGuiness kept the Tories happy by handing over control over environmental issues to them and their country landowner and farmer allies – see previous post on composition of the boards of the authority. Reform will be ranting and raving to support the national NO NET ZERO position of their reptilian leader. David Icke claimed that we were controlled by alien lizards walking amongst us in human form. I don’t think Farage has made much of an effort on the human form.
What happens in relation to the combined authority’s programme on net zero will be crucial. The Greens with their quasi religious opposition to nuclear and genetically modified crops ( I am with James Lovelock on these issues), not to mention their support for aggressive extreme trans policies – men should be able to play women’s rugby – will not provide any sort of realistic opposition to failure to deal with this existential (when did that become the word for this but it has?) issue. Take to the streets on this – talking to the school kids who did that before.
I am looking to see what I can find out about the Reform Councillors in Durham. They look like (in photos) a mixture of renegade Tories, golf club bores, and young nutters. However, there are local elections coming in Tyne and Wear in 2026. Labour is useless at addressing real discontents. If there is no development of a force which can do that before then, Reform may well sweep the board there as well – they very nearly won the North Tyneside mayoral election (why a North Tyneside mayor?). Bad times coming.
Site Title 
Leave a comment